Chain-reaction crash on Route 460 results in life-threatening injuries

Published 12:00 pm Saturday, July 22, 2023

The Virginia State Police reported that a July 21 crash affecting multiple vehicles on U.S. Route 460 at the Zuni Circle intersection led to a passenger being flown to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and a reckless driving charge being brought against the driver who allegedly caused the crash.

In a Saturday, July 22, news release, the VSP indicated that the crash occurred at approximately 3:41 p.m. on Friday, July 21, in Isle of Wight County.

The preliminary investigation reveals that an unknown vehicle was traveling eastbound on U.S. 460 and stopped to make a left turn onto Zuni Circle, police said, noting that a Hyundai, Jeep Cherokee and Honda proceeded to slow to a stop behind the vehicle. VSP then stated that Marion Franklin Knicley, 64, the driver of a 2005 Dodge Ram truck that was pulling a trailer, allegedly failed to stop, striking the 1990 Honda in the rear and causing a chain reaction. 

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Photos from the scene, supplied by VSP, suggest that the Honda was pushed up underneath the Jeep Cherokee, which was largely resting on top of the Honda after the crash.

The rear-seat passenger of the Honda was entrapped and had to be extricated from the vehicle, police said, noting that the passenger was flown from the scene to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with serious life-threatening injuries. 

Windsor Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Dale Scott said that upon the WVFD’s arrival on scene, its personnel found a motor vehicle accident involving multiple vehicles. 

“One of these vehicles was on top of the vehicle that required extrication of a patient,” he said. “Due to this situation, beyond the patient extrication, additional vehicle stabilization was required.”

He noted that the extrication was performed by WVFD and Ivor Volunteer Fire Department, and it took approximately 25 minutes.

He said the passenger was flown to the hospital by MedFlight.

Knicley was charged at the scene with reckless driving, the release stated.

The crash is still under investigation.

Among the agencies to respond to the crash, in addition to the VSP, WVFD and IVFD, were Windsor Volunteer Rescue Squad, Ivor Volunteer Rescue Squad, Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad and Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office.